The Portland daily press., 1887-01-25
The State of Trade.

lfron Bradstreets of Saturday, Jan. 22)
Special kilograms to Bradstreet's report a mod
crate improvement in the distribution Of textile
staples. Foodstuffs have not been moved as rap
idly, but the demand for iron and steel continues
as heretofore to exceed the supply. Snow and
stormy weather, west and northwest, have
checked deliveries of farm produce, but trade in
general is quite equal to and in some localities is
in excess of the volume one year ago. Bank
clearings at thirtythree cities for six days ended
yesterday as wired to Bradstreet's, aggregate
s1,o19,S17 1916, as compared with $780,, ,374762
last week and with slo11 ,846 ,s56 in the third
week of January, 1886. This shows in increase
of $27,4oo,o 600, or 2 7-10 per cent as compared
with the preceding week, and of s7,9o0,0oo, or
u Of per cent. as compared with the like week
in 1886. Increases and decreases at leading cit
les are:
Weeks
clear New
ines. York Phila. Pittsb'g Provide.
Inc. $25,3oo.o0o se,7oo,0oo 100000 500 900
Boston. N. Orleans. Chicago. ST. Louis.
Dec. 81, 100000 ss0o,ooO 100000 100000
Minneapolis and st. Paul clearings are Ss76,00
less this week than last, or l3 per cent.
Retail merchandise stocks at the interior are
generally reported llght collections are fairly
satisfactory, and funds continue 10 return from
the country.
The New York stock market is irregular and
unsettled activity being confined to Richmond
Terminal the coal stocks, and certain specialties
in which manipulation plays a leading part
Speculation in the staple stocks is at a standstil
Transactions for the week are 2191, ,224 shares,
against 1,575,519 shares the preceding week,
12,546,4S3 shares the corresponding week in
1886, and ], ,473. .016 shares in 1885. Bonds have
been quiet. the principal feature being the settle
ment between the Lake Shore and the Nickel
Plate bondholders. Transactions for the week
amount TO $685. 800, against $10,517, 900 the
preceding week. Money is easy, the banks hay
ing gained in reserve, and the tendency of funds
is to return to New York. Call loans are 4Q5
per cent. and time money 41aa5. Commercial
paper is scarce, though banks try to keep rates
up. Foreign exchange is very firm, owing to
scarcity of commercial bills and inactivity of in
ternational stock transactions.
Wheat has been only moderately active, irregu-
lar, and closes "a lower for No. red at New
York. owing to free selling east and west, rains in
California and unfavorable cables. Flour is dull
and stocks at New York are increasing. Hog
products have been stronger on good home and
export inquiry and speculative demand. Demand
for raw sugar at New York is still restricted by
scarcity of coal. Centrifugals and granulated are
Lice. lower on the week. with the market quiet
and steady. At New Orleans sugar is 1-16c. high
er, with light stocks and decreasing receipts.
Coffee is 14c. below last weeks closing price, No
purchases have been made in Brazil for Europe or
America, but those believing that some reaction
must follow the enormous advance within year
have operated on that basis and speculative
prices are off 40 points, with the market very
sensitive. Rumors that Brazil prices have de-
clned are not confirmed.
Business in dry goods at first hands is satisfac-
tory, with prices strong Stocks are not increas-
ing and many cotton mills are sold ahead. Ex-
ports are heavier andlprices higher. Cassimeres
and cther heavy goods have sold at per cent
over last years opening but this is not the rule.
Wool manufacturers are not securing advances.
Stocks.of wool are large, but European adyIces
are encouraging.
The advance in price Of bar iron to 2.2c an.
nounced in Bradstreet's last week, has taken